Stolhunter wrote:Keep me in mind if you hear of a good deal on a cabin. Trying to find a good late 50's model 180 to put on floats and then sell my 182 rg. Beautiful awesome spot. When you get back down my way in Texas, maybe we can find the time to sit around and talk about flying opportunities up there. I am sure there are many

Will do. You might want to check with Bob Breedon, he knows a lot of what's for sale around here, I bought my place from him (he's a Real Estate Broker). And Dan Default stopped by last night and mentioned he has a 180 he was going to put on floats but has decided to sell (he has a number of projects going on). PM me with your contact info and I can hook you guys up if you'd like. Are you planning on coming to the Roundup?

I hope to make it. I have military coming in on the week before and after. SO its hard to get in before friday night and I have to be home sunday night. But I intend to fly in.

I'm pretty sure this can be considered flying related since it involves two STOL guys, Bob Breedon and myself.

Regardless it was fun to make. (the actual work however was long, tiring, and annoying - until Bob showed up to help)

https://vimeo.com/241342044

Woke up to snow this morning. Second one we've had (first was washed away by rain), about 3" so far. This will likely melt off as well in the next week but it does get me excited about getting my new skis for the SQ2 and learning ski flying.

What hangar door would you use?

As you can see my pole barn is looking more like a hangar. Akgreg just finished enclosing the three walls, all I need is a door now. I was thinking of a HiPower door, but Greg went out of the box with his thinking and suggested maybe what I think of as closet doors. Or a pair vertical "bifolds". Could even do that in the same fletch board style. So if this was yours what would you do?

Hi Phil,
In winter climates I'd never consider a door that didn't have a full length horizontal truss so that no ground tie is needed due to problems with frost heaving and icing as well. In northern Minnesota, having 2" extruded polystyrene buried a couple feet down under and around the hangar pretty well solves the frost heaving part, might go thicker there. I built a hydraulic door, HiPower is nice, so is Schwiess bifold with nylon straps.

Beautiful place you have there!

marcusofcotton wrote:Hi Phil,
In winter climates I'd never consider a door that didn't have a full length horizontal truss so that no ground tie is needed due to problems with frost heaving and icing as well. In northern Minnesota, having 2" extruded polystyrene buried a couple feet down under and around the hangar pretty well solves the frost heaving part, might go thicker there. I built a hydraulic door, HiPower is nice, so is Schwiess bifold with nylon straps.

Beautiful place you have there!

Thanks. And thanks for your tips and thoughts.

I'm a fan of the higher power door. I like that it essentially balances on the door jambs. It puts no force on the building. I was impressed with the demo at Airventure this year. Have a look at their YouTube videos.

The Schwiess tears at the front wall while it's open, cantilevered out the front. Consider a bit of wind, and you're really going to want to add a bunch of braces on the side walls and up in the trusses.

For me, hydroswing wouldn't be an option. You'd have to completely plow all the snow in front before you'd try to open it, not just enough for the landing gear. More plowing=less time to fly! Days are short in winter Alaska.

The higher power door has a bit of that same disadvantage. You'd have to determine if it lifts enough to clear most snowfalls before it tilts.

A reply to the comments about having to plow snow before opening the door:

I have never NOT plowed the snow in front of my hangars prior to opening the door. I'm not saying that every bit of snow has to be removed, but if you don't remove the snow you are inviting the chance for snow to build up and then your door won't close. The original plan for Phil's hangar was to be just a pole barn with open sides and no door, which is how I built it. Now that has changed and flitch board siding is on. Next up is some sort of door. Bi-fold style with a track is the most logical choice due to weight considerations and simplicity. The building is NOT sealed tight so there isn't a need for an expensive door. Just something to keep the snow and rain out. There is a 6" gap around the perimeter of the building and where the door will be, more likely 8-10" due to slope and building design.

I've been struggling with sliding doors for a long time. They're always frozen, won't slide, and a lot of work to open when I'd rather be flying. I dream of a door that lifts instead of slides. Bad drainage and leaking eavestrough are factors.

If the decision lands on sliding doors, consider wrapping the bottom of the door in plastic or tin that ice won't adhere to. I used a heat tape laid under the door to thaw them loose. I wish it had been built into the door, or in a conduit poured into the concrete.

My Dad just built a set of closet style doors for his hangar, it was a very simple design that cost less than the installation alone of a hydraulic door. Don't skimp on the track on the top of the door if you build those, he used to rent a hangar with the same setup and the tacks were twisted from when a hurricane came through. The doors would hop off the very easily if you weren't careful.

I built a similar hangar and a bifold door. The door took almost as long as the hangar, and I really did it for fun - and because my AME said "don't do that it will never work well". Stubborn, just had to prove him wrong.

Its a 12v cheap 1500 lb winch, with a big counterweight. Works really well, and I have boat winch for backup. Small cables, picking up the door at 5 points.

I probably would not do it again, but would go with bifolds hung from an overhead track with rollers. Easier to build, smaller panels, and you could have them short for snow clearance. I rarely have to deal with snow, every few winters 1ft or so.

Thanks for the hangar door tips guys! I'll keep you posted on what we end up doing.

Another bit of news. My airport is now official. It shows up in both Garmin Pilot and Foreflight, but not yet on the sectionals yet. Interesting huh?

Anyway 04AA and it's named...wait for it... Phils ...not very creative I know but that's what everyone has been calling it since I "moved in".

https://skyvector.com/airport/04AA/Phils-Airport

Awesome! Congrats!


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I've got three of these, they work great. They are powered by an electric motor.
http://ultimatedoor.homestead.com/ultimate.html

I have heard of people not powering them

http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... door-ideas

Congrats on the official airport now

Barnstormer wrote:...Anyway 04AA and it's named...wait for it... Phils ...not very creative I know but that's what everyone has been calling it since I "moved in".

https://skyvector.com/airport/04AA/Phils-Airport

I like it, good for you!

I spent four years up there flying C-130s out of Elmendorf and a Super Cub out of Merrill. It changed my perspective on aviation and life. That place is awesome and I look forward to getting up there more next year. Wife and I are planning to spend the month of June up there banging around in a 180 and I am stoked!

Edit: So I posted this while I was reading the fog section and now that I get down to the hangar door discussion I see that it isn't as timely or relevant. Anyway, your good-looking hangar will help you get going quicker than I was able to when parked outside!

Thanks everyone!

slowmover, if you can get up here next year swing on by. A bunch of Carbon Cub friends are coming up in June, camping and basing at my place. You are welcome to join the fun!

Thanks Phil!

Texas to Alaska today in something faster then the SQ2. Beautiful day. One flight left to Kenai. I’m bushed. Brought up a couple of my hunting rifles and new eyes!




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